Risk and resilience

Risk taking behaviours are a normal part of growing up provided their potential harm can be prevented or reduced. In terms of policy development in the UK risky behaviour tends to refer to behaviours such as drug, alcohol and tobacco use, underage sex and unprotected sexual activity, although there are many other behaviours that can be defined as risky.

The risk factors for substance misuse overlap with those for educational under-achievement, young parenthood, sexual risk taking and adolescent mental health problems, therefore action taken to address these risk factors and to increase levels of protection help to prevent a range of negative outcomes.

Common themes indicating what works to reduce risk of negative outcomes are:

Early identification and intervention;

Intervention at the appropriate stage of young peoples development;

Ability to reach those at greatest risk;

Sensitivity to the needs of different, racial cultural and economic groups;

Workers equipped with the skills and the knowledge to support young people with the issues that effect them;

Young people friendly services.

The aims of the City of York Risk and Resilience Strategy are to:

Reduce the number of unwanted teenage conceptions and maintain a downward trend;

Enable young people to make positive choices with regard to the relationships they have, their social and emotional well being and sexual health;

Increase the number of teenage parents in education, employment and training;

Reduce the number of young people misusing drugs and alcohol and ensure young people who do, have the support to enable them to stop.

On these pages there are useful links, downloads, resources and information about training to help practitioners work with young people around the issues.